People

LearningRx Reston, Va. and Vienna, Va., brain training centers were presented with a top, 2018 Customer Service Award at the company’s national convention held in Colorado Springs, Colo. for its sixth consecutive year. The award is given to centers that have shown a strong commitment to customer satisfaction. For more information, go to www.learningrx.com.

Reston, Va. and Vienna, Va. brain training centers averaged an overall score of 9.5 out of 10 for all clients that trained in the centers over the last year. To determine customer satisfaction, LearningRx uses a 10-point scale and asks clients (or their parents) the likelihood they would recommend LearningRx to a friend. The 10-point measurement of customer loyalty also works as a system to increase customer satisfaction.

The BASIS Independent McLean (BIM) MATHCOUNTS team placed first in the MATHCOUNTS state championships in Richmond, Va. this past weekend; this is BIM’s second time participating and winning in the annual statewide MATHCOUNTS competition. BASIS Independent McLean MATHCOUNTS members, called Team SWEEP to represent a combination of their initials, include: Sam Wang (grade 7), Eleanor Kim (grade 8), Ethan Zhou (grade 7), and Pravalika Putalapattu (grade 8). Team SWEEP is led by Coaches Tyler Sullivan and Dr. Ryan Grove, a BIM math and science teacher. MATHCOUNTS state champions head to the 2018 MATHCOUNTS National Competition in Washington, D.C., May 12 to 15. For more information on BASIS Independent McLean, go to http://mclean.basisindependent.com.

BASIS Independent McLean (BIM) of McLean, Va. inducted 37 students into its newly minted chapters of the National Honor Society (NHS) and National Junior Honor Society (NJHS), with 10 NHS 10th and 11th grade members and 27 NJHS 6th grade to 9th grade members. Students must earn at least a 3.5 grade point average or a 90 percent cumulative average to be accepted into the NHS or NJHS societies. The NHS and NJHS chapter is led by BIM science teacher Ashley Bulldis. For more information on BASIS Independent McLean, go to http://mclean.basisindependent.com.

The BASIS Independent McLean (BIM) middle school math team of McLean, Va. earned first place in the 35th Annual Northern Virginia Regional MATHCOUNTS Competition for the team category, led by BIM MATHCOUNTS coach, Tyler Sullivan. BIM students, Eleanor Kim, Pravalika Putalapattu, Sam Wang and Ethan Zhou, refer to their four-person math team as Team SWEEP, a name created by the students’ initials. Fifteen schools competed in The Northern Virginia Chapter 2018 MATHCOUNTS Competition. For more information on BASIS Independent McLean, go to http://mclean.basisindependent.com.

“We’re very excited to have our students win the MATHCOUNTS chapter championships for the second consecutive year,” said Ron Kim, head of school of BASIS Independent McLean of McLean, Va. “Their preparation and hard work have paid off and will help prepare them for the state contest in March,” said Kim.

Maureen Loftus, executive director of LearningRx of Vienna, Va., and Reston, Va. is leading the sixth annual Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce (TRCC) job shadow program, in partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools, for almost 90 11th and 12th grade Fairfax County students, which is a 50 percent increase in student participation from last year. Students applied from James Madison High School, George C. Marshall High School, Marshall Academy, Oakton High School and Mountain View High School in Fairfax County, Va. Students can shadow professionals in more than 30 industries for one day from January through March 2018. In 2014, the TRCC job shadow program earned the Workforce Development award from Fairfax County and FCPS. Loftus is heading up the program as she is the chair of the TRCC’s Youth and Education Committee. For more information, go to www.learningrx.com.

Carmello’s of Historic Manassas, Va. got to make special holiday memories with more than 35 BARN Community Housing residents of Bristow, Va., when they dropped off Christmas dinner for the 12 BARN families. Meals included tortellini crema rosa with a variety of salads and desserts. For more information on Carmello’s, go www.carmellos.com.

BARN Community Housing of Bristow, Va. opened its doors to families facing homelessness in 1997. A 501(c)3 secular non-profit, BARN provides clean, safe housing for families in need of a helping hand. Started by the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia, BARN is located on the monastery grounds. BARN is about helping families overcome the obstacles – emotional and financial –empowering these individuals to trust in their own abilities and strive to be the best version of themselves.

Cook in Mexico, a Mexican culinary tour was named winner of the 2017 Magellan Gold Award for Best in Mexico for Destinations--Culture and Arts by Travel Weekly, a premiere travel magazine. Haymarket, Va.-based owners George and Linda Meyers host their worldwide guests on cooking tours in authentic Mexican kitchens, and guide guests on personalized Mexican historic tours and dance to Mariachi and climb the ruins of Cañada de la Virgin. You can watch their travel adventures on social media at Cook Eat Play Travel or www.cookeatplaytravel.com. For more information, go to www.cookinmexico.kitchen.

The Magellan Awards is the premier award for the travel industry, which honors the best in travel and is judged by a 14-member panel. The Travel Weekly Magellan Awards honor the best in travel.